Angry care workers in protest over changes

ANGRY care workers arrived in force at the Town Hall to urge councillors not to ‘abandon’ Rochdale’s most vulnerable residents. They attended the cabinet meeting to present a 1,000 signature petition against controversial changes earmarked for the adult care service.

ANGRY care workers arrived in force at the Town Hall to urge councillors not to ‘abandon’ Rochdale’s most vulnerable residents.

They attended the cabinet meeting to present a 1,000 signature petition against controversial changes earmarked for the adult care service.

Social services want to change the way home care service is provided.

The plan, already approved by councillors, means the care of some adults, such as those who have suffered a stroke, will be subject to a six-week review during which they will be taught ways of looking after themselves.

Those needing long-term care will be helped by staff from private agencies.

But Unison members leading the protest, with the backing of some politicians and concerned families, told the packed cabinet meeting that this could spell disaster for service users.

One union member said: “Our members are a dedicated, committed workforce to the borough’s most vulnerable people.

“These members of staff provide an excellent service and all we ask is that you retain it.”

Referring to those that had signed the petition, she added: “They don‘t want a privatised care service.”

Adding his voice to the cause was the mayor, Councillor Peter Evans, whose own father received ‘superb treatment’ from the care service.

“We should not abandon the vulnerable,” he said.

“I urge the committee to work in favour of keeping the council’s social services.”

Another woman told the cabinet how her mother was finding it difficult to cope with a private agency, which sometimes provides her care instead of the council, as its staff changed ‘day in, day out’ and are not always able to cater automatically to her needs.

She also told the cabinet her mother was ‘deteriorating’ because of the stress of knowing the future of the service was uncertain.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew assured the protesters their views would be taken on board and passed on to social services.

“We are listening,” he said.

Changes to social services are likely to be phased in over the next 12 months, with the proposed start signalled for March. They are expected to save the council £8.5M.

The head of service has previously told users that the long-term project would undergo a trial run.

Head of adult care services Stephen Netherwood told our sister publication, the Heywood Advertiser: “If people have long-term needs we will deal with that.

“We will not abandon them.”

l There’s a page of readers’ letters on the homecare service shake-up on page 37.